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For week ended June 20, 1999 Posted 26 Jun 1999

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BYU Athletic Director resigns, replaced by deputy (Fehlberg resigns as BYU AD)

Summarized by Kent Larsen

BYU Athletic Director resigns, replaced by deputy (Fehlberg resigns as BYU AD)
Deseret News 18Jun99 L3
Deseret News special

and other articles listed at the end of this summary

PROVO, UTAH -- BYU Athletic Director Rondo Fehlberg abruptly quit on Friday after four years at BYU. Fehlberg will be replaced by associate athletic director for external affairs Val Hale. Fehlberg told the press he will persue other interests. BYU officials seemed cagey about why Fehlberg left, but refused to call it a firing.

In a prepared statement, Fehlberg indicated that "The past four years at BYU have been a marvelous experience for me and my family. It has been my privilege to be associated with truly wonderful faculty, administrators and student athletes who share my devotion to this great university. I am confident that Val Hale will continue BYU's strong tradition of leadership and excellence in intercollegiate athletics."

However, Fehlberg's time at BYU has been rocky. He had no experience in athletic administration when he was hired in 1995, and he caused a stir when he fired men's basketball coach Roger Reid in the middle of the 1996-97 season. Fehlberg's tenure was also marked by several football players leaving the school because of violations of the school's honor code. The most recent departure was runningback Junior Mahe.

His replacement, Hale, is a 17-year vetran of BYU's athletic department. BYU president Merrill J. Bateman indicated that he thought the transition would be smooth. "We are pleased that Val Hale has accepted this appointment as Director of Men's Athletics," said Bateman. "His extensive experience in leadership roles within the Athletic Department, the respect he has won within the athletic community nationally, along with his excellent marketing and communications skills, make him exceptionally well qualified for his new responsibilities." Hale graduated cum laude from BYU in public relations in 1981. He served an LDS Church mission to Santiago, Chile.

Hale said he was grateful for the opportunity. "Over the years, I have had the privilege of observing some of the best athletic administrators in the business. Working side-by-side with men such as Dave Schulthess, Glen Tuckett, Dale McCann, Clayne Jensen, R.J. Snow and Rondo Fehlberg has prepared me for this assignment," he said. "I appreciate the confidence shown in me by President Bateman and Vice President Fred Skousen.

"I will sorely miss working with Rondo Fehlberg, who I consider to be a man of highest integrity and ability and who is a great friend," he continued. "At the same time, I am humbled, yet excited, by the challenge of leading such a talented group of coaches, administrators and student athletes as we carry on the great tradition of BYU athletics."

Deseret News sports columnist Doug Robinson indicated that Fehlberg, a talented executive who left a lucrative job at Pennzoil and more than $500,000 in associated benefits to come to BYU, may have been a good man for the job, but his timing couldn't have been worse. Robinson says that Fehlberg was the ultimate fan, and suffered when the harsh realities of his job conflicted with the view of a fan.

Hale promoted to AD at BYU
ESPN (AP) 18Jun99 L3
Associated Press

System was too big for one man
Deseret News 19Jun99 L3
By Doug Robinson: Deseret News sports columnist



Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 Kent Larsen · Privacy Information